Marble Day promises old-fashioned fun

True old-fashioned fun will make its return to Downtown Bonner Springs Saturday during the sixth annual “Marble Day” celebration.

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., organizers say this year’s event will include all the usual favorites, with contests, prizes, performers and several free activities.

“That’s the fun thing about the whole day — it’s really just a community day,” said Bruce Breslow, owner of The Moon Marble Co. and one of the lead event organizers. “We push old-fashioned fun, try to make it an old-fashioned day and not make it an expensive day for families.”

Marble Day schedule of events

Unless otherwise noted, all events are at Centennial Park

• Wacky Parade, 10 a.m., Nettleton to Oak Street to Centennial Park

• Opening Ceremony, 10:15 a.m.

• Wacky Pet Tricks Contest, 10:30 a.m.

• Marble Tournament, 11 a.m.

• Running of the Pinkys, noon, on Oak Street between 2nd and 3rd Street

One change from previous years is the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Area Chamber of Commerce will not be an official sponsor, but many local businesses are still involved. Breslow said the event committee has remained strong with city officials and local merchants, and the web page, marbleday.com, was redesigned.

Marcia Harrington, representing the city and the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau on the event committee, said an activities sheet will be dispersed during the event to help attendees navigate all the fun and games.

“We’re looking very forward to this weekend for Marble Day,” she said. “We think it’s going to be a very fun event; we’re just hoping for good weather.”

Marble Day begins with a “Wacky Parade,” and attendees are invited to dress silly, decorate bikes, wagons etc and join in the fun. Pets with special talents may enter in the stupid pets trick contest. Other activities include sack races, a cakewalk, straw tunnel and numerous games.

The marble tournament, which begins at 11 a.m., is open to ages 13 and under. The competition for marble-related art and inventions is open to all age levels.

In the annual “Running of the Pinkies,” 5,000 pink balls will be dumped at the top of Oak Street to bounce and roll their way past a series of obstacles to the finish line. The balls are numbered, and there are prizes for the winning balls. Pinky “sponsorships” are available on site the day of the event or from local businesses in the prior weeks.

This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bonner Springs High School music department.

Games that will take place along Oak Street throughout the event will include giant bubbles, a bean-bag toss, hop scotch and a coloring contest. At Centennial Park, along with more games, there will be a straw tunnel and mountain, balloon animals and yo-yo demonstrations.

Breslow said the best thing about Marble Day is the way area residents embrace the event, both as volunteers and participants.

“There’s a lot of community support of this — people just come out and help,” he said.